The 12 Dirtiest Foods In The Produce Aisle Will Break Your Heart

Every year since 2004, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes a "Dirty Dozen" list that ranks the most popular fruits and vegetables based on their pesticide residue levels. By analyzing pesticide residue data from more than 35,000 samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this year EWG found a total of 146 different pesticides on fresh produce samples tested in 2014–residues that remain even after items are washed and, in some cases, peeled. Here's the quick and dirty on which fruits and veggies you might want to be wary of at the grocery store:

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1
Strawberries

For the first time in five years, strawberries have dethroned apples as the top carrier of pesticides in produce. In EWG's findings, 98 percent of the strawberries tested by federal officials contained detectable pesticide residues. Of those strawberry samples, 40 percent included residues of 10 or more pesticides while some contained as many as 17 different pesticides.

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2
Apples

Like strawberries, more than 98 percent apples tested positive for at least one pesticide residue, with many apples containing multiple residues. They are regularly at the top of the list—sitting in the unfavorable spot five year running, from 2011 to 2015.

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3
Nectarines

Again, more than 98 percent of nectarines tested positive for multiple pesticide residues. Since Americans eat nearly 8 pounds of the fruit each year, according to EWG, this is a special concern for the organization.

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4
Celery

Single samples of celery tested positive for 13 different pesticides apiece.

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5
Peaches

The USDA summarized its own testing from 2014 and concluded that "overall pesticide residues found in foods are at levels below the tolerances set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency." But keeping pesticides at a legal level may not be enough for some customers, which is why EWG stresses buying organic produce.

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6
Grapes

The EWG findings also reveal that a single grape tested positive for 15 pesticides.

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7
Cherries

"Fruits and vegetables are important for your health," Sonya Lunder, EWG Senior Analyst, said in a release. "But for those on the Dirty Dozen, we recommend buying the organic versions if you want to avoid pesticides on your food."

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8
Spinach

Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that "just because a pesticide residue is detected on a fruit or vegetable, that does not mean it is unsafe." On its Food and Pesticides FAQ website, the EPA explains that "the presence of a detectible pesticide residue does not mean the residue is at an unsafe level. USDA's Pesticide Data Program (PDP) detects residues at levels far lower than those that are considered health risks."

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9
Tomatoes

To counter these claims, the EWG charges the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) with failing to comply with the Congressionally-mandated Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, which is legislation designed to to warn Americans of the risk of eating foods containing chemical pesticides.